Honors Academy student Construction Management & Engineering

Merel Backx

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I am studying people with dementia who still live at home, to determine in which situations they experience anxiety and, hopefully later on, to reduce that anxiety through technology. For my project, I am interviewing nurses, caregivers, psychologists, geriatricians and technical experts. That is a point of growth for me: doing interviews is new and a little scary. It’s already clear that the practical situation adds to the scientific literature, which doesn’t discuss concrete behavior.

I joined the Honors Academy because I was looking to combine the psychological side of my Psychology & Technology bachelor’s degree with architecture. None of the master’s degree programs really fit that concept, but the Honors Academy allowed me to create a research project that did. I initially thought you would need excellent grades to join, but they are actually looking for excellent motivation.